Category: dog things

One thing that’s pretty cool about living here that I never experienced before is that you can leave your house, where it’s 80 degrees, and drive an hour east into the mountains, and there’s snow and it’s in the 30s or 40s.

Back in December, I heard that it snowed in the Laguna Mountain area (in San Diego county), so I grabbed Maeby and we made the drive east. A lot of the snow had already melted but there were still people out there sledding and it was very much worth heading out that way. Here are some highlights from our trip out there.

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It was during the week and as I mentioned, a lot of the snow had already melted, so it was an easy drive without traffic or any snow/ice on the roads. That being said, if you do choose to head out towards Laguna Mountain to go sledding or play in the snow on a weekend, I recommend getting up there early to avoid traffic. The best part about all of this though? Once you’re cold and/or done with the snow, it’s right back to warm, sunny weather.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am huge dog lover. In February of 2015, I began volunteering with a local dog rescue by helping out at adoption events. For me, it was a way to get involved in a bigger cause, feel like I was making a difference, and since I wanted a second dog but was not in a position to get one, it allowed me to play with and engage with other dogs.

In the summer of 2015, Adam and I were given the opportunity to temporarily foster a dog named Dorothy. She was a very neurotic dog, and a little possessive over her people, but we fell in love with her and a temporary foster situation became long-term until she found her forever home.

In September, Dorothy had gotten an incredible application in and when the family came to meet us, we knew it was a perfect fit. That afternoon, she went home.

Since Dorothy, we’ve done a few temporary fosters again, but also some of our very own long-term fosters.

There was Coleman (who I found on Craigslist and who I took in while I could network him to a rescue)…

Gracie, the sweetest and gentlest dog ever, and also a tri-paw…

and Sophie, a puppy from Mexico…

I would by no means call myself an expert on fostering, but there are some things I’ve learned throughout the process that will hopefully push anyone who’s considering it in the right direction. Here are some questions that I’ve been asked:

What is fostering?

When you foster a dog, you take the dog in and usually, all expenses (food, grooming, medical) are covered. All you have to do is love the dog! Some shelters offer this and most rescues offer this – the rescue we foster with doesn’t have a physical boarding location for its dogs; all of the dogs are in foster homes, learning what life is like in a home, often with kids, other dogs and cats.

What are the benefits of fostering?

For a rescue, it’s way more affordable than boarding a dog. Dogs benefit in that it’s a great way to prepare them for life in a forever home, especially since many dogs get very stressed out in boarding or in the shelter environment. Adopters can be pretty confident when talking to a knowledgeable and thorough foster about what kind of environment the dog needs and whether their home will be a good fit. For example, we have a large dog (Maeby!), so if we get an application where they already have a dog, we know that our foster will do likely do well with that dog. We still do meet and greets to make sure the dogs get along, but it’s helpful for the adopter to already know how the foster dog is living with another dog.

Does the foster get to choose where the dog ends up?

Different rescues have different processes, but with the one I foster with, we get to review the applications that come in and have final say in where the dog ends up. Our rescue believes that no one knows the dog better than the foster, so they should choose where the dog would be happiest and what kind of family would be best-suited for it.

How do you not fall in love with the dog and keep it?

This one is tough, haha. Within a day of getting a new foster dog, Adam always proudly declares we are keeping it. I have to be the voice of reason and say that we shouldn’t/we can’t. I really wanted to keep Gracie, and Adam really wanted to keep Coleman. But we try to be honest with ourselves about what we can afford and what’s best for the dog, and also remember that if we were to adopt one of our fosters, we wouldn’t be in a position to continue fostering and helping other dogs.

Can you adopt your foster dog?

A lot of foster families I know do end up keeping their foster dog! That’s what we call a “foster fail.” It depends on the rescue’s policy, but ours allows the foster family to adopt the dog.

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Any other questions? I’d love to hear from you. Share them in the comments below!

Friday evening after a crazy work week, I met up with some friends for dinner and drinks at Eureka in UTC. It was great to catch up and spend some time with some of my favorite ladies, and everything we got was delicious. If you ever end up there, I highly recommend the truffle cheese fries. Yes – they are as good as they sound.

It was quiet when we first started, but within ten minutes, the path got kind of crowded due to a St. Patrick’s Day race happening at the park. Maeby did so well though, despite the crowds and the noise, and we finished our short run all smiles.

Saturday afternoon, I volunteered with a local dog rescue.

Per my new year’s resolutions, so far this year, I have spent a good amount of time determining what makes me happy, and finding a way to do more of that. Knowing that all of these dogs are in foster care and if I can help get one adopted, it means another dog somewhere gets to leave the shelter, is incredibly rewarding. It doesn’t hurt that I literally just pet and play with dogs for a few hours. I started volunteering every Saturday about a month ago, and it’s the highlight of my week.

All of these dogs are available for adoption (and they’re all so, so sweet!), so if you or someone you know might be interested in making a new best friend, please let me know. And if it’s not one of the dogs pictured here, we have many more of all breeds and sizes, so again, feel free to reach out if you’re in the San Diego area and are interested.

Saturday evening, after running a few errands, I caught a beautiful sunset on my way home, and spent the rest of my evening taking it easy with Adam, watching bad reality TV and Tina Fey’s new show, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Sunday

I tried out a new-to-me exercise studio in the college area (La Mesa, right near SDSU).

I had never tried Jazzercise before, and I’m sure my perception of it was similar to what your perception probably is…but real talk? It was SO much fun. I’ll be sharing a full review of my experience in a few days, but if you’re in the San Diego area, definitely give this studio a try, and if you’re not, try and find a studio near you. It was such an energized and fun class, and I would totally recommend this studio to any of my friends.

The workout was definitely a good way to start out my day, especially since later in the afternoon, a few of our friends came over to watch some hockey and barbecue.

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I also wanted to note that I’ve shared this post through Running ‘N’ Reading’s Weekend Update! As always, thanks for hosting!

I held off on giving Maeby her new toys until Christmas, but she didn’t really mind the wait, because she loves them. Not surprisingly, she’s also loving her new treats, particularly the Old Mother Hubbard treats. The L’il Brush Bones have an interesting smell to them, but Maeby seems to enjoy them all the same.

Now that we’ve been getting PetBox for a few months, I’m planning on putting together a list of our favorite products we’ve received so far. Check back in a few weeks to see what Maeby has been loving most!

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Are you interested in PetBox for your dog or cat? Get 10% off your first box with code MAEBY.

Maeby’s PetBox arrived while we were back on the east coast, but we were happy that our neighbor picked it up for us! It’s our third month of receiving PetBox and as usual, we were very happy with what we got. Maeby has been thrilled with all the treats and toys she’s been getting.

What is PetBox?

PetBox is a monthly subscription service for toys and treats for dogs and cats. With every PetBox purchased, PetBox helps to feed a pet in need.

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Once I opened the box, Maeby did her usual thing…she ran right up to the box and tried to see what was in it. Sorry for the blur – it was an intense action shot!

So far, we’ve enjoyed the treats and Maeby has been loving her new toys, which she hasn’t yet destroyed. As always, the treats are all natural and I love that they are made with whole ingredients and not full of fillers or ingredients that I can’t pronounce.

I realize I’m probably due for a more thorough review of some of the products we’ve received so far, so I’ll try to do a post on those treats and toys we’ve really loved at some point in the future.

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Are you interested in PetBox for your dog or cat? Get 10% off your first box with code MAEBY.

Holiday season is just around the corner, and as you’ve seen on here recently, I’m sharing some of my favorite gift ideas each week.

This week is no different, and today’s gifts are for your furry friends and their owners. Please note that these posts are not sponsored – these are simply items that I’ve picked out on my own that I think everyone will enjoy!

If you follow here, you know I’m all about animal rescues and I love philanthropic businesses. So for there to be an Etsy shop that does both? And they sell adorable, quality products? I’m in. The dog in the middle is named Boo. Boo and her family make bandanas for dogs and cats, and 20% of proceeds go to local animal shelters. I’ve already ordered some for Maeby, and may do a giveaway for these in the future.

Here’s another Etsy shop for you, and definitely one I’m excited about! How about handmade collars? They’re prettier than anything you’ll find at the pet store and they’re handmade upon ordering. In addition to holiday designs, they also have really cute patterns that are suitable for wear year-round. Another thing I’d love to get for Maeby.

Loyalty Unleashed: Pit Bulls and the People Who Love Them (Website ▴ Facebook)

Not only am I a huge advocate of animal rescue, but I love speaking on behalf on pit bulls and bully breeds because of the common misconception of the breed based on media portrayal. The author of this book has compiled stories from pit bull owners all over the country. Some stories are sad and others are funny, but all are uplifting and convey just how incredible this group of dogs is. If you or someone you know is passionate about pit bulls, dogs, or just wants a story about amazing animals, this is the book for them. A portion of all sales go to animal rescue.

I’ve written about PetBox several times before, since we get a monthly PetBox and Maeby is actually a spokesdog for it. For prices starting at $9.99 per month, you can subscribe to this monthly service in which you’ll get a box full of toys, treats and more for your dog or cat. We’ve only gotten three boxes, but so far we are loving it! I’ve been thinking about getting this for family members’ dogs for Christmas and I know others would love it as well. Don’t forget that you can get 10% off your first PetBox with code MAEBY.

Inspired by her own dog, the maker of this jewelry knows that people love their pets and often feel as if their pets have rescued them, rather than the other way around. These handmade, sterling silver charms are adorable and I can think of several people that I know who love their dog or cat, and who would love jewelry like this. A portion of each sale goes back to animal rescue organizations.

Do you know someone who loves to bake? And that person has a dog or cat they’re sort of obsessed with? Then these dog and cat treat cookbooks might be just what you were looking for. As a side note, I enjoy the cover artwork for both of these books.

Local Dog Daycare Day or Boarding Pass

We love Maeby so much and hate leaving her when we go anywhere. But we have lives and it must be done. We spent a lot of time researching where to take her when we’re going to be gone for a day or overnight, and we love the place we’ve chosen, but it’s definitely expensive! I can guarantee that any dog owner would love to have a giftcard, day pass, or boarding pass for their dog at their favorite boarding facility.

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What did I miss? Are you a dog or cat owner? What kind of gift would you like to receive?